Monday, June 17, 2013 7:15 am

China calls for explanations of US surveillance

The Associated Press

China on Monday joined calls for Washington to provide explanations following disclosures of National Security Agency programs which collect millions of telephone records and track foreign Internet activity on U.S. networks.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that Washington needs to heed international concerns expressed since the programs were made public earlier this month by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Officials and lawmakers in Germany and other countries are already pressing Washington for information about the collection of information that might affect their citizens' privacy.

"We think that the United States should regard seriously the concerns and demands of the global community and people from all countries and furnish the global community with a necessary explanation," Hua said at a regularly scheduled briefing.

Snowden flew to the Chinese autonomous region of Hong Kong on May 20 and is believed to still be there, though in hiding at an unknown location. China hasn't said whether it would cooperate with any U.S. demands for his extradition, and Hong Kong's Western-style legal system that is distinct from that on the Chinese mainland allows opportunities for him to appeal.

U.S. officials have defended the surveillance programs as essential to disrupting terrorist plots.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday he was "very, very worried" that Snowden would pass on sensitive information to China in return for immunity or sanctuary.